Rocker bearing for running gears



June 17, 1952 s. c. HETH ROCKER BEARING FOR RUNNING GEARS OriginalFiledFeb. 29, 1944 Aa@ H A w WM @M /f/w /iL PatentedJune 17, 1952Sherman-C. YHeth,Racinc,"\|lis., 4assigner' to J. I. Gase-v Company,Racine, Wis., "a vcorporaticn of Wisconsin .Continuation.ci.applicationl SerialNm152%468.. '.'Eebruary"'Z9,}19441 Thisapplication December 12,2;1947, ScrialNcqiJge Thisfinvention isanimprovement in running 01' ground gear for threshing machines of themobile type pulled by a tractor and operatively :interrelatedandx'co-iunctionng, with va sickle In amachine of thistypeit isimportant toa'void excessive variation in the height ofthefs'ickle.above the groundand Aalso to keep the machine 'as nearly'as'practical parallel 'to the horizontal to assure the efficiency of thecleaning process. The construction proposed by the present inventionequipe each end of the main supporting axle of the threshing machinewith an equalizing lever, the central or hub portion of which ispivotally interconnected with its end of the main axle. Suitablebearings and journals together' with adaptation for lubrication areprovided for this pivotal interconnection. At the outer ends of eachequalizing lever, a stub axle is ilxed. The stub axles project outwardlyfrom their respective levers. Ground wheels are rotatably supported onthe stub axles by means of suitable anti-friction bearings. Special andadvantageous means is provided to maintain the ground Wheels in properaxial position on their respective shafts.

With such a construction, two Wheels so equalizably supported at eachend of the main supporting axle of the threshing machine in rolling overground of unlevel or irregular contour or ground presenting rocks,clods, or other obstructions Will reduce the rise and fall of thethreshing machine to one-half of what it would be with the conventionalsingle wheel. In like manner, tilting of the machine due to anobstruction encountered by one side only of the machine is similarlyreduced.

These objects of the invention and other ancillary advantages areattained by the mechanism, construction, and arrangement illustrated inthe accompanying drawing which shows a fragmentary view in horizontalcross section illustrating the manner in which each ground wheel ismounted on its stub axle, and the manner in which each equalizing leveris rotatably interconnected with the main supporting axle.

The structural members of the threshing machine carry a pipe I0.

One of the main axles of the threshing machine, designated as issupported by the pipe ra-claims. (crest-1045 2 |'0- by meansoffsuitable' bearingfplates orv 'collars ||by and |.|-c apertured toreceive axle 'and fitting withinpipe i0. A bolt or the like ||`d extendsthrough axle Il and `pipe Ill, transflxing these members so 'as tomaintain 'the axle in place in the pipe.

An equalizing lever generally designated as I2 is rotatably or pivotally.mounted 'at and on the main axle Il. This lever I2 is of pipelikeconstruction as particularly vshown in the drawmg.

Astub axle |3,is iixedto the outer 'endo'f tire lever |2.

A ground wheel I4, is rotatably supported on the stub axle I3, by meansof suitable bearings preferably anti-friction bearings I5'.

To maintain each ground wheel in proper axial position on its axle, acollar I5 is pinned thereto by pin IB. A cap |1 is fitted over thecollar I5 and is secured by bolts and nuts I8 to a flange 20 of the hub2| of the adjacent wheel I4. A lubricating fitting 22 communicates withthe interior of hub 2| for supplying lubricant to the bearing I5'.

Referring to the drawing which is typical of the four wheels, a tubularelement I2b is placed transversely of axle and pivoted thereon in muchthe same manner as a wheel would be in a conventional arrangement. Forthis purpose, tube |2b is apertured and receives therein a shell |2cwhich acts as a journal bearing and carries bushings lid-l2d which havea press t in shell I2@ and form the journal bearing for axle Shell I2cis welded at |2e or otherwise securely fixed in tube |21. Shell I2projects from tube |2b a short distance into pipe I0 and abuts againstbearing plate IIc which constitutes a shoulder to prevent excessive endplay while the other end of shell l2c projects into proximity to a plate|2f held in place on the end of axle by a hollow cap screw |28. In thismanner, shell I2c is substantially prevented from moving endwise on axlebut is free to rock thereon. A lubricating fitting I2h on cap screw |28communicates therethrough with a passageway I21 within axle and whichconnects with a port I2j leading to the space between bushings |2d|2d sothat lubricant may be introduced to facilitate rocking of the lever |2and prevent entrance of dirt into the bearing.

While I have shown and described one construction in which the inventionmay be advantageously embodied, it is. to be understood that theconstruction shown has beenv selected merely for the purpose ofillustration or example and that various changes in the size, shape andarrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

The above being a complete description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured byLetters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rocker bearing for a running gear including a transverse tubularmember, said bearing comprising a journal member partly Within saidtransverse tubular member and extending outwardly beyond the endthereof, annular collar members on said journal member, one spacedinwardly from the end of said transverse tubular member and anotherspaced inwardly from the first, a relatively great distance as comparedwith the spacing of said first annular collar member from the end ofsaid transverse tubular member, means for maintaining said journalmember and said annular members in place in said transverse tubularmember, a rocker bearing sleeve pivotally supported on said journalmember and extending into said transverse tubular member to the extentpermitted by said ilrst annular collar member to provide a sand collarfor said bearing sleeve, and means for maintaining said bearing sleevein place on said journal member.

2. A rocker bearing for use with a vehicle running gear comprising atransverse tubular member, a fore and aft rockable tubular memberdisposed at the end of said transverse tubular member and normal to theaxis thereof, laterally extending Wheel carrying axles secured to theextremities of said rockable tubular member and transport wheelsjournaled on said wheel carrying axles; said rocker bearing comprising ajournal member partly within said transverse tubular member andextending outwardly beyond the end thereof, annular collar means on saidjournal member, one spaced inwardly from the end of said transversetubular member and fitting within said transverse tubular member, meansfor maintaining said journal member in place in said transverse tubularmember, a rocker bearing sleeve pivotally supported on said journalmember and extending into said transverse tubular member to the extentpermitted by said annular collar member to provide a sand collar forsaid bearing sleeve, and means for maintaining said bearing sleeve inplace on said journal member.

SHERMAN C. HETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,925,536 Judd Sept. 5, 19332,085,214 Francis June 29, 1937 2,088,442 Sanchez July 27, 19372,124,149 Redhead July 19, 1938 2,367,751 Bombardier Jan. 23, 1945

